Abbreviations used on this site and in historical writings on the subject of Heraldry

Alphabetical by abbreviation:

Abbreviation

Expanded

Type

Notes

Reference

&c. (&c.)

et cetera, (latin) meaning and others, or, and so forth

Misc

It's not expected that the reader will understand exactly what has been abridged, the reader is simply to understands that something formulaic has been abridged.

ar.

Argent (silver)

Tincture

Ayr.

Ayrshire (Scotland)

Place

az.

Azure (blue)

Tincture

b.

Baron

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Bart.

Baronet

Title

Beds.

Bedfordshire

Place

Berks.

Berkshire

Place

Betw

Between

File Names

Our Image Files

BHH

Bear Head Holding

File Names

Our Image Files

bt.

Baronet

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

BTF

Between the Forelegs

File Names

Our Image Files

BTP

Between the Paws

File Names

Our Image Files

Bucks.

Buckinghamshire

Place

c.

City

Misc

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

C.B.

Commander of the Bath

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Camb.

Cambridgeshire

Place

Chesh.

Cheshire

Place

Coll

Collared

File Names

Our Image Files

comp.

Company

Misc

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Cornw.

Cornwall

Place

Cpd

Couped

File Names

Our Image Files

Ctr

Center

File Names

Our Image Files

Cumb.

Cumberland

Place

d.

Duke

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

D.C.L

Doctor of Civil Laws

Title

D.D.

Doctor of Divinity

Title

Derb.

Derbyshire

Place

Devon.

Devonshire

Place

Disp

Displayed

File Names

Our Image Files

Displ

Displayed

File Names

Our Image Files

Dors.

Dorsetshire

Place

Durh.

Durham

Place

e.

Earle

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Eng.

England

Place

Era

Erased

File Names

Our Image Files

Eras

Erased

File Names

Our Image Files

erm.

Ermine

Tincture

Ers

Erased

File Names

Our Image Files

Ersd

Erased

File Names

Our Image Files

Ess.

Essex

Place

FOXHH

FOX HEAD HOLDING

File Names

Our Image Files

G.B.

Great Britain

Place

G.C.B.

Grand Cross of the Bath

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

G.C.H.

Knight Grand Cross of the Guelphic Order

Title

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Glouc.

Gloucestershire

Place

gu.

Gules (red)

Tincture

Hants.

Hampshire

Place

Hd

Head

File Names

Our Image Files

Heref.

Herefordshire

Place

Herts.

Hertfordshire

Place

Hold

Holding

File Names

Our Image Files

Hunts.

Huntingdonshire

Place

Iri.

Ireland

Place

K.A.

Knight of Annunciation of Sardinia

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.A.

Knight of St. Andrew

Title

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.A.N.

Knight of Alexander Newski

Title

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.B.A.

St. Bento d’Avis

Title

PORTUGAL

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.B.E.

Knight of the Black Eagle

Title

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.C.

Knight of the Crescent

Title

TURKEY

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.C.B.

Knight Commander of the Bath

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.C.H.

Knight Commander of the Guelphic Order

Title

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.C.S.

Knight of Charles the Third

Title

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.E.

Knight of the Elephant

Title

DENMARK

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.F.

Knight of Ferdinand

Title

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.G.

Knight of the Garter

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.G.C.

Knight Grand Cross of Cruziero

Title

Brazils [sic]

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.G.F.

Knight of the Golden Fleece

Title

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.G.V.

Knight of Gustavus Vasa

Title

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.H.

Knight of the Guelphic Order

Title

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.H.

Knight of the Hermenegilde

Title

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.H.G.

Knight of the Holy Ghost

Title

France

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.J.

Knight of St. Januarius

Title

NAPLES

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.L.

Knight of Leopold

Title

AUSTRIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.M.

Knight of MALTA

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.M.H.

Knight of Merit in HOLSTEIN

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.M.J.

Knight of Maximilian Joseph

Title

Bavaria

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.M.M.

Knight of the Order of Military Merit

Title

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.M.T.

Knight of Maria Theresa

Title

AUSTRIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.P.

Knight of St. Patrick

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.P.S.

Knight of the Polar Star

Title

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.R.E.

Knight of the Red Eagle.

Title

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.

Knight of the Sword

Title

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.A.

Knight of St. Anne

Title

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.C.

Knight of Constantine and St. George

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.E.

Knight of St. Esprit

Title

FRANCE

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.F.

Knight of the St. Ferdinand and Merit

Title

SICILY

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.G.

Knight of St. George

Title

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.H.

Knight of Hubert [sic]

Title

Possibly Knight of St. Hubert

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.I.

Knight of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India

Title

1861 GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.J.

Knight of St. John

Title

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.J.

Knight of St. Joseph

Title

Tuscany

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.L.

Knight of St. Louis of France

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.L.

Knight of Sun and Lion

Title

PERSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.M.

Knight of St. Maurice

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.M.G.

Knight of St. Michael and St. George

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.P.

Knight of St. Stanislaus

Title

POLAND

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.S.W.

Knight of St. Wladimir

Title

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.T.

Knight of the Thistle

Title

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.T.S.

Knight of the Tower and Sword

Title

PORTUGAL

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.W.

Knight of William

Title

NETHERLANDS

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

K.W.E.

Knight of the White Eagle

Title

POLAND

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Knt.

Knight

Title

l.

Lord

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Lanc.

Lancashire

Place

Leic.

Leicestershire

Place

Linc.

Lincolnshire

Place

m.

Marquis

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

M.D.

Doctor of Medicine

Title

Midd.

Middlesex

Place

Middx.

Middlesex

Place

Monm.

Monmouthshire

Place

MS

Manuscript

Miscellaneous

A document or book written and or painted by hand rather than printed, or typed. When referenced in heraldry books this probably referes to a document that predates the printing press or a document copied by hand from an earlier document.

Complete Guide to Heraldry - Fox Daview

n.

Number

Misc

N.S.

Nova Scotia

Place

Norf.

Norfolk

Place

Northamp.

Northamptonshire

Place

Northumb.

Northumberland

Place

Notts.

Nottinghamshire

Place

Oxon.

Oxfordshire

Place

pl.

Plate

Misc

Older books often used two different types of Illustrations. Illustrations inline with the text, often a woodcut blocks, and separate illustration pages printed from engraved plates of copper, steel, or zinc.

ppr.

Proper

Tincture

Natural or normal color, rather than a Heraldic color.

purp.

Purpure (purple)

Tincture

Rampt

Rampant

File Names

Our Image Files

Rmpt

Rampant

File Names

Our Image Files

Ruts.

Rutlandshire

Place

sa.

Sable (black)

Tincture

Salop.

Shropshire

Place

Sco.

Scotland

Place

SHEH

SWAN HEAD ERASED HOLDING

File Names

Our Image Files

sin.

Sinople (fr. Green)

Tincture

Somers.

Somersetshire

Place

St.

Saint

Title

Staff.

Staffordshire

Place

Suff.

Suffolk

Place

Surr.

Surrey

Place

England, County

Suss.

Sussex

Place

t.

Town

Misc

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

U.K.

United Kingdom

Place

v.

Viscount

Title

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Visc.

Viscount

Title

Warw.

Warwickshire

Place

Wel.

Wales

Place

Westm.

Westmoreland

Place

Wilts.

Wiltshire

Place

WolfHH

Wolf Head Holding

File Names

Our Image Files

WolfHP

Wolf Head Patterned

File Names

Our Image Files

Worc.

Worcestershire

Place

York.

Yorkshire

Place

Grouped:

Type

Abbreviation

Expanded

Notes

Reference

Misc

&c. (&c.)

et cetera, (latin) meaning and others, or, and so forth

It's not expected that the reader will understand exactly what has been abridged, the reader is simply to understands that something formulaic has been abridged.

Tincture

ar.

Argent (silver)

Place

Ayr.

Ayrshire (Scotland)

Tincture

az.

Azure (blue)

Title

b.

Baron

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Title

Bart.

Baronet

Place

Beds.

Bedfordshire

Place

Berks.

Berkshire

File Names

Betw

Between

Our Image Files

File Names

BHH

Bear Head Holding

Our Image Files

Title

bt.

Baronet

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

File Names

BTF

Between the Forelegs

Our Image Files

File Names

BTP

Between the Paws

Our Image Files

Place

Bucks.

Buckinghamshire

Misc

c.

City

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Title

C.B.

Commander of the Bath

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Place

Camb.

Cambridgeshire

Place

Chesh.

Cheshire

File Names

Coll

Collared

Our Image Files

Misc

comp.

Company

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Place

Cornw.

Cornwall

File Names

Cpd

Couped

Our Image Files

File Names

Ctr

Center

Our Image Files

Place

Cumb.

Cumberland

Title

d.

Duke

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Title

D.C.L

Doctor of Civil Laws

Title

D.D.

Doctor of Divinity

Place

Derb.

Derbyshire

Place

Devon.

Devonshire

File Names

Disp

Displayed

Our Image Files

File Names

Displ

Displayed

Our Image Files

Place

Dors.

Dorsetshire

Place

Durh.

Durham

Title

e.

Earle

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Place

Eng.

England

File Names

Era

Erased

Our Image Files

File Names

Eras

Erased

Our Image Files

Tincture

erm.

Ermine

File Names

Ers

Erased

Our Image Files

File Names

Ersd

Erased

Our Image Files

Place

Ess.

Essex

File Names

FOXHH

FOX HEAD HOLDING

Our Image Files

Place

G.B.

Great Britain

Title

G.C.B.

Grand Cross of the Bath

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

G.C.H.

Knight Grand Cross of the Guelphic Order

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Place

Glouc.

Gloucestershire

Tincture

gu.

Gules (red)

Place

Hants.

Hampshire

File Names

Hd

Head

Our Image Files

Place

Heref.

Herefordshire

Place

Herts.

Hertfordshire

File Names

Hold

Holding

Our Image Files

Place

Hunts.

Huntingdonshire

Place

Iri.

Ireland

Title

K.A.

Knight of Annunciation of Sardinia

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.A.

Knight of St. Andrew

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.A.N.

Knight of Alexander Newski

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.B.A.

St. Bento d’Avis

PORTUGAL

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.B.E.

Knight of the Black Eagle

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.C.

Knight of the Crescent

TURKEY

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.C.B.

Knight Commander of the Bath

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.C.H.

Knight Commander of the Guelphic Order

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.C.S.

Knight of Charles the Third

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.E.

Knight of the Elephant

DENMARK

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.F.

Knight of Ferdinand

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.G.

Knight of the Garter

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.G.C.

Knight Grand Cross of Cruziero

Brazils [sic]

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.G.F.

Knight of the Golden Fleece

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.G.V.

Knight of Gustavus Vasa

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.H.

Knight of the Guelphic Order

HANOVER

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.H.

Knight of the Hermenegilde

SPAIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.H.G.

Knight of the Holy Ghost

France

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.J.

Knight of St. Januarius

NAPLES

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.L.

Knight of Leopold

AUSTRIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.M.

Knight of MALTA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.M.H.

Knight of Merit in HOLSTEIN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.M.J.

Knight of Maximilian Joseph

Bavaria

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.M.M.

Knight of the Order of Military Merit

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.M.T.

Knight of Maria Theresa

AUSTRIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.P.

Knight of St. Patrick

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.P.S.

Knight of the Polar Star

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.R.E.

Knight of the Red Eagle.

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.

Knight of the Sword

SWEDEN

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.A.

Knight of St. Anne

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.C.

Knight of Constantine and St. George

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.E.

Knight of St. Esprit

FRANCE

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.F.

Knight of the St. Ferdinand and Merit

SICILY

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.G.

Knight of St. George

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.H.

Knight of Hubert [sic]

Possibly Knight of St. Hubert

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.I.

Knight of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India

1861 GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.J.

Knight of St. John

PRUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.J.

Knight of St. Joseph

Tuscany

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.L.

Knight of St. Louis of France

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.L.

Knight of Sun and Lion

PERSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.M.

Knight of St. Maurice

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.M.G.

Knight of St. Michael and St. George

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.P.

Knight of St. Stanislaus

POLAND

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.S.W.

Knight of St. Wladimir

RUSSIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.T.

Knight of the Thistle

GREAT BRITAIN AND INDIA

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.T.S.

Knight of the Tower and Sword

PORTUGAL

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.W.

Knight of William

NETHERLANDS

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

K.W.E.

Knight of the White Eagle

POLAND

The Book of Family Crests (1862)

Title

Knt.

Knight

Title

l.

Lord

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Place

Lanc.

Lancashire

Place

Leic.

Leicestershire

Place

Linc.

Lincolnshire

Title

m.

Marquis

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Title

M.D.

Doctor of Medicine

Place

Midd.

Middlesex

Place

Middx.

Middlesex

Place

Monm.

Monmouthshire

Miscellaneous

MS

Manuscript

A document or book written and or painted by hand rather than printed, or typed. When referenced in heraldry books this probably referes to a document that predates the printing press or a document copied by hand from an earlier document.

Complete Guide to Heraldry - Fox Daview

Misc

n.

Number

Place

N.S.

Nova Scotia

Place

Norf.

Norfolk

Place

Northamp.

Northamptonshire

Place

Northumb.

Northumberland

Place

Notts.

Nottinghamshire

Place

Oxon.

Oxfordshire

Misc

pl.

Plate

Older books often used two different types of Illustrations. Illustrations inline with the text, often a woodcut blocks, and separate illustration pages printed from engraved plates of copper, steel, or zinc.

Tincture

ppr.

Proper

Natural or normal color, rather than a Heraldic color.

Tincture

purp.

Purpure (purple)

File Names

Rampt

Rampant

Our Image Files

File Names

Rmpt

Rampant

Our Image Files

Place

Ruts.

Rutlandshire

Tincture

sa.

Sable (black)

Place

Salop.

Shropshire

Place

Sco.

Scotland

File Names

SHEH

SWAN HEAD ERASED HOLDING

Our Image Files

Tincture

sin.

Sinople (fr. Green)

Place

Somers.

Somersetshire

Title

St.

Saint

Place

Staff.

Staffordshire

Place

Suff.

Suffolk

Place

Surr.

Surrey

England, County

Place

Suss.

Sussex

Misc

t.

Town

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Place

U.K.

United Kingdom

Title

v.

Viscount

The Book of Family Crests (1862) Dictionary of Mottoes

Title

Visc.

Viscount

Place

Warw.

Warwickshire

Place

Wel.

Wales

Place

Westm.

Westmoreland

Place

Wilts.

Wiltshire

File Names

WolfHH

Wolf Head Holding

Our Image Files

File Names

WolfHP

Wolf Head Patterned

Our Image Files

Place

Worc.

Worcestershire

Place

York.

Yorkshire

Feel free to ask about heraldry abbreviations that you can't figure out or think that we should include.